From their EPK, “With a rich musical experience and hungry for more, Alix, Basil and Florent joined forces in 2022 to form DISLIMN. The project’s soundscape melds the hypnotic resentment of stoner rock with the nebulous nuances of Scandinavian melodies. Their debut EP, “Esmee,” will be released on June 7, 2024. This EP deals with chronic anxiety through the character of Esmee. Like a book, the tracks describe main character Esmee, who has to deal with an overwhelming chronic anxiety. A battle against oneself in five chapters.

 The album has five songs, and “Anxiety” is first. The opening guitar tones are clean, but quite somber, and I am reminded of a steady, cold rain…the kind that sinks in slow and makes you frigid. The vocals are very expressive as well, and you can feel the level of anxiety like a dark tension in the air. “Emee’s Story” is another depressing tale. Like the theme of the album, it is a ride through dark, stormy skies and what seems like forever, with no peaks of light along the way. The main riff is crunchy and emotive and provides a layer of heaviness that the song needs. “Gullfoss” swings with a weighted and energetic groove, and the lead breaks are rich with wah-wah.

 “In My Mind” has a fuzzy riff in the opening that segues into clean guitar and more of those despondent feelings. “No one gives a damn” she declares. To me, it sounds like an inner struggle that is very hard for her to navigate. “Release Me” is the final track, led by a declarative riff and expressive vocals. Tension rises throughout the song until the half-way mark, where it dips under the radar, and come back with the renewed vigor of “I would never lose, I would never fall again.” Soul is the word that comes to mind when listening to the album. This is what the band pours into each composition. The music and vocals are expressive, and the album makes the listener think, deeply.